GM Foundation, Rainbow PUSH Award 30 Scholarships

Program develops leadership potential and encourages social justice and change

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Oct 04, 2016, 04:45 ET

DETROIT, Oct. 4, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Thirty college students were awarded Rainbow PUSH Excel Scholarships at the 17^th Annual Rainbow PUSH Automotive Summit held in Detroit. The conference brings together automotive, business and community thought leaders to advance diversity initiatives within the automotive industry.

The GM Foundation funded the scholarships, now in its fifth year of support. Jackie Parker, director of Global Philanthropy and Corporate Giving and president of the GM Foundation, presented each student with a $2,500 scholarship.

The Rainbow PUSH / EXCEL Scholarship Award recipients pose for a group photo with GM Foundation and Rainbow PUSH leadership Friday, September 30, 2016 during the Rainbow PUSH Global Automotive Summit in Detroit, Michigan. GM Foundation provides funding for the scholarships recipients. (Photo by Mary Morgan for General Motors)

This year's scholarship recipients will attend varied colleges and universities across the country, with equally varied fields of academic study. Scholarships are awarded to intellectually astute candidates who lack the financial resources to pay tuition costs. Moreover, the scholarships ensure a diverse future talent pipeline, and will provide companies like GM candidates that will drive innovation in the global marketplace. Ninety percent of PUSH Excel Scholars complete their studies and graduate.

About the Rainbow Push Coalition
The Rainbow PUSH Coalition is a progressive organization devoted to protecting, defending and expanding civil rights to improve economic and educational opportunity. To learn more, please visit http://www.rainbowpush.org.

About the General Motors Foundation:
Since its inception in 1976, the GM Foundation has donated hundreds of millions of dollars to American charities, educational organizations and to disaster relief efforts worldwide. The GM Foundation focuses on supporting Education, Health and Human Services, the Environment and Community Development initiatives, mainly in the communities where GM operates. Funding of the GM Foundation comes solely from GM. The last contribution to the GM Foundation was made in 2001. For more information, visit www.gm.com/gmfoundation.

Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20161004/415209

SOURCE Rainbow PUSH Coalition